Baseball Hosts LIU Tuesday

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Fresh off a Star Series win over Navy, Army West Point Baseball hosts the LIU Sharks for its final non-conference matchup of the regular season.

First pitch from Doubleday Field is set for 4:30 p.m.

Notes and Storylines

» Army secured a thrilling series win over Navy April 26-28, in a series Baseball America described as the best in the country last weekend.

Game 1 saw Justin Lehman deliver a complete-game, 129-pitch shutout with eight strikeouts as the Black Knights scored their only run on a fifth-inning squeeze bunt from Coleson Titus. It was enough to win 1-0.

After falling in Game 2, Army rallied in Sunday's Game 3 to claim the Baseball Star. Addison Ainsworth doubled in the tying run in the ninth inning before Chris Barr's walk-off base knock to the right-center gap to score pinch-runner Zak Farrell.

Army allowed just eight total runs in the series win. In addition to Lehman's gem Friday, Mike Ruggieri (Saturday, 6.0 IP) and Matthew Ronnebaum (Sunday, 7.0 IP) had quality starts.

Army has won the Star three years in a row. Dating back to 2022, Army has won 12 of the past 15 over Navy. The all-time series, which dates back to 1901, is 130-130 stalemate.

Army is 15-4 in its past 19 games against service academy rivals, and have won three of its past four against Air Force.

» Army plays each Patriot League foe five times in 2024, spread out among a variety of series lengths. The Black Knights have yet to lose a series or season series in 2024. The magic number to clinch the regular season title is one.

» On April 26 against Navy at home, Lehman gave up just three hits and induced a trio of double plays in the first three innings. He went 21 batters without allowing a hit in the first through eighth innings, and had five innings where he sat the
Midshipmen down in order.

Each of Lehman's seven starts on the mound have lasted five innings or longer. He also has five starts of six fames or longer. The junior has also pitched two of Army's complete games in 2024.

Having pitched in eight games and started in seven, Lehman's 1.39 ERA and 0.95 WHIP are both best in the Patriot League, with his ERA also slotting fourth-best nationally.

» RHP Tanner Gresham made his first appearance in 372 days on Saturday, after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 2023 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year had a scoreless ninth inning Saturday, with one strikeout.

» 21 games into Patriot League play, Army has:
- Allowed six or fewer runs in all but two league matchups, and three or fewer runs in 12 games across that stretch.
- A league-leading team ERA of 4.58, and 3.50 across conference games.
- A conference-best .246 opponent batting average, and has allowed fewer runs (211) than any other league foe.
- Had its starting pitcher go five innings or longer in all but four league contests.

Next Up

Army heads into the final weekend of Patriot League play, needing just one win to claim the regular season conference title and home-field advantage throughout the league tournament.

The Black Knights will have senior day before Saturday's 12:00 p.m. doubleheader against Lehigh, before concluding the regular season with a doubleheader Sunday against Lafayette.

Follow the Black Knights

Follow Army Baseball on X @ArmyWP_Baseball and on Instagram @armywp_baseball. Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about baseball and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.

Army West Point Athletics

Players Mentioned

Addison Ainsworth

Chris Barr

Tanner Gresham

Justin Lehman

Matthew Ronnebaum

Mike Ruggieri

Coleson Titus

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